The Passion of Joost Oomen

A disarming story about an imaginary conversation with a euthanasia patient. The writings of Joost Oomen – recognized as 'literary talent of the year' by de Volkskrant – are central. Though known for his energetic presentations, here Oomen shows a different, vulnerable side of himself. His texts are interwoven with music by Schumann. Beloved piano works in a colourful arrangement for strings and wind section, created by the ever-idiosyncratic ensemble Pynarello.

In Schumann’s music, two opposing characters come to the fore: the dreamy, tender, introverted Eusebius, and the fiery, impulsive, extroverted Florestan. These characters symbolise the duality in the euthanasia discussions: on the one hand the pleasure and joyful memories of life, and on the other hand the sadness and struggle with approaching death. The poet and the music explore the inherent joy and melancholy of life.